Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary who spent decades serving in Peru and currently oversees the Vatican’s influential office of bishops, has been elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
Prevost chose the name Leo XIV. In his first words, Pope Leo XIV, the American Robert Prevost, says ‘Peace be with you.’ He spoke in Italian and then switched to Spanish, recalling his many years spent as a missionary and then archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
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Watch his speech here:
READ MORE: Robert Prevost elected Pope; First ever American Pope
Here’s a look at everything you need to know.
Age: 69
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Current Role: Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops — one of the most powerful positions in the Vatican, overseeing the nomination and vetting of bishops worldwide.
Experience: Extensive missionary and leadership work in Peru. He was appointed to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo in 2014 by Pope Francis and served there until 2023.
Rise in Rome: Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican in 2023 to take over his current post. Prevost has long been seen as a trusted figure in Francis’ circle.
Background:
The new pope was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St. Augustine, formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.
Prevost was twice as the top leader, of the Augustinians, the 13th-century religious order founded by St. Augustine.
The order’s requirements and ethos are traced to the fifth century St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity.
The order works in about 50 countries, according to its website, promoting a contemplative spirituality, communal living and service to others.
Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.
He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts the most Catholics.
Pope Leo XIV’s first appointments have been set
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni says:
- Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass on Friday morning at 11 a.m. with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.
- He plans to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica
- And he plans to hold an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium
FAQ
Who is Robert Prevost? The former pope, Francis, brought Prevost, 69, to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. As a result, Prevost has a prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals had.
Why did the new pope choose the name Leo XIV? Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru before taking over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, chose Leo XIV for his papal name.
Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903, softened Catholicism’s confrontational stance toward modernity — especially science and politics — and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers’ rights and capitalism.
The name “is a deep sign of commitment to social issues. I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome,’’ said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University in the Bronx.
How was the new pope chosen? 135 eligible cardinals participated in a secretive voting process known as “the conclave.” The cardinals had no contact with the outside world, and their votes will not be revealed.
Which cardinals were the leading contenders? There are never official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals were considered “papabile,” or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope. Some names include Pietro Parolin, who oversaw the conclave, Luis Tagle, dubbed the “Asian Francis,” Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, a conservative cardinal native to the Congo, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, potentially the first Italian pope in decades.
Prevost’s hands-on work in Latin America, combined with his influence in appointing bishops globally, places him in a unique position within the Church’s leadership. He’s known for being pastoral, pragmatic, and aligned with Francis’ vision of a more inclusive, socially engaged church.
Reactions around the world
The U.S. president shared his response on Truth Social.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising each day and having breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers.
“No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy,” Purisaca said in an email to the AP.
Marco Rubio issued a statement expressing his “heartfelt congratulations” to the new pope during “a moment of profound significance” for the church.
“The papacy carries a sacred and solemn responsibility,” Rubio’s message said. “May the Holy Spirit impart wisdom, strength, and grace as he shepherds the Church. The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.”
Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush
“Laura and I are delighted to congratulate former Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election to the papacy. This an historic and hopeful moment for Catholics in America and for the faithful around the world. We join those praying for the success of Pope Leo XIV as he prepares to lead the Catholic church, serve the neediest, and share God’s love.”
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama
Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.
The Associated Press and Reporter Nicole Winfield contributed to this article.